Will IMG move India´s only ATP event to another location?
Chennai event could be moved if more sponsorship from government not forthcoming

ATP Tennis 22 Nov 2012 - 13:14 / by Prakash

After recent events in the United States have moved, the only ATP event in the Indian sub-continent could also be moved out in the coming years.

The Aircel Open in Chennai has been held in the South Indian city for the last 17 years and January 2013 will be its 18th edition. But the state tennis association who is backing the event has said that IMG could move the event to another country but they will do all in their powers to keep it in Chennai.

“IMG has the opportunity to take the tournament to other countries also. But TNTA is discussing with IMG so that the tournament stays in Chennai. For this, we need to commit ourselves to hosting it for at least five years,” said M. A. Alagappan, President, TNTA. “We hope Aircel will be with us; we will also need additional sponsors to come in."

The Tamil Nadu Government has hiked its support to the Chennai Open from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

For 2013, the top players particiapting include world no. 6 Tomas Berdych (finally not ...), Janko Tipsarevic, Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka.

No tournaments in India seem to last.
First there was there Indian Open(73-79), then the Kingfisher Airlines(06-07 in India).
On the WTA tour, there was the Sunfeast Open(05-07) and the Bangalore Open(03-08).
The Chennai open is the only tennis tournament in India that has lasted more then 6 years, and as of now one of only two tournaments in India(the other one is a WTA challenger that started this year)
It would be a real shame if the Chennai open moved out.

With the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association's (TNTA) contract with International Management Group (IMG), the promoters of the event, ending with the 2013 edition, there's a possibility that the annual carnival may move out of the country.

According to sources, IMG had got offers from Turkey and China, and the TNTA was trying its best to hold it back. IMG-TNTA ties go a long way back, and with the event stepping into its 18th edition in 2013, it's the goodwill card that the local association is trying to play in its desperate bid to ensure that the marquee event stays in Chennai.
For the IMG deal to come through, TNTA will have to pledge to host the tournament for the next five years. "We are in talks with IMG so that Chennai doesn't lose out on this premier event. For this, we need to promise to host the event from 2014-2018," said TNTA president M A Alagappan on Thursday.

IMG, on its part, played it safe when quizzed about the chances of the contract renewal. "Negotiations are on, so it would be premature to make any comment," Ashu Jindal, chief operating officer of IMG, said.

Chennai Open is India's only ATP event, and it has seen stars like Boris Becker, Patrick Rafter, Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal taking part. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won their first doubles title in Chennai as well and in recent times, Somdev Devvarman became a household name after making the final of the event in 2009.

But with events like Brisbane International, Hopman Cup and the Doha Open happening in the same week, some top players choose to use those tournaments as preparation for Australian Open, which takes place in the last week of January. Last year's champion Milos Raonic, for example, will be playing in Brisbane instead of defending his title in Chennai in 2013.

With the diminishing star value, sponsorship is becoming a problem for the state tennis association. Aircel, the title sponsor for the last three years, hasn't renewed its contract for the 2014 edition TNTA, though, is not losing hope. "While we heavily bank on Aircel, we also need additional sponsors to come in," said Alagappan

No tournaments in India seem to last.
First there was there Indian Open(73-79), then the Kingfisher Airlines(06-07 in India).
On the WTA tour, there was the Sunfeast Open(05-07) and the Bangalore Open(03-08).
The Chennai open is the only tennis tournament in India that has lasted more then 6 years, and as of now one of only two tournaments in India(the other one is a WTA challenger that started this year)
It would be a real shame if the Chennai open moved out.

A bit of good news for Chennai Open as BOLS Kyndal are sponsoring the 2013 edition for the 2nd year and Volvo for 5th. With the increase in sponsorship given by the Tamil Nadu government, I believe if Aircel(currently title sponsor) commits to sponsor the tournament for the next few years, it should stay in Chennai.

I don't think there is any other city in India that can host an ATP tournament. Anyway, ifeven there were, that would definitely not happen. If it stays, one of the reasons will be the backing it gets by the Tamil Nadu government. Nothing like that would be there in any other state in India. If the tournament moves out of Chennai, it will move out of India.

It seems that the Chennai Open is having a good year(2013 edition) in terms sponsorship. As expected, it seems that if Aircel continues its sponsorship there is no reason for the tournament to move out.

I don't think there is any other city in India that can host an ATP tournament. Anyway, ifeven there were, that would definitely not happen. If it stays, one of the reasons will be the backing it gets by the Tamil Nadu government. Nothing like that would be there in any other state in India. If the tournament moves out of Chennai, it will move out of India.

It seems that the Chennai Open is having a good year(2013 edition) in terms sponsorship. As expected, it seems that if Aircel continues its sponsorship there is no reason for the tournament to move out.

Thats true, the board has to improve the infrastructure of courts in some cities. Bangalore and Delhi have good courts.

They signed the deal . The event will run till 2016 Hope we get a top 4 player next year preferably Federer

For those of you who didn't see it, they announced this at the ceremony after the final.

Quote:

Putting to rest all the doubts, the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) and IMG Reliance, the organisers of the Chennai Open, on Sunday announced the extension of the ATP Tour event for another three years.

With this extension, India and South Asia's only ATP tour event will continue to be held in Chennai until 2016. The 2013 event was the 18th edition of the tournament in India and 17th edition in Chennai.